Collapsible take-up spool



Nov. 7, 1950 H. G. PRocToR i 2,529,185

COLLAPSIBLE TAKE-UP SPOOL Filed Nov. 2l, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGA- i hweidaif: /7/0/145@ P90670@ Nov. 7, 1950 H. G. PRocToR 2,529,185

coLLAPsIBLE TAKE-UP sPooL Filed Nov. 2l, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f//fy l l Patented Nov. 7, 1950 COLLAPSIBLE TAKE-UP SPOOL Homer G. Proctor, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to The American Steel and Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 21, 1946, Serial No. 711,275

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a collapsible take-up spool and more particularly to such a spool for coiling wirefafter the wire has been drawn or otherwise processed.

Prior 'to my invention the type of spool most commonly used formed coils having a tapered opening therethrough. It was difficult to remove the coils of wire from this type of spool and therefore considerable time was lost in changing coils. g

It is an object of my invention to provide a collapsible take-up spool which will coil wire intov coils having a uniform internal diameter.

Another object is to provide such a spool which allows for a'quick and easy removal of the coiled Wire therefrom by the simple manipulation of one part of the assembly.

These andv other objects will be moreapparent after referring to the following specification and'attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isV a sectional view of the assembled spool; f

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line II-'II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is' a sectional view taken on the line 11i-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectioned View similar to Figure 1, but showing the spool collapsed; and

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section, showing the wrench in position for loosening the nut to permit collapse ofthe spool.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, thev reference numeral 2 indicates a rotating shaftfoniwhichfthe take-up'spool is mounted. Theitake-up spool is driven by means of a friction clutch, the drum 4 of which is fastened to a cast steel hub portion 6 by means of screws 8. The hub portion 6 is provided with threads Sat one end and a flange I0 at the other end adjacent the drum 4. The bore I2 of hub 6 is provided with bushings i4 which act as bearing surfaces for the rotating shaft 2. A collar I6 is pressed on the end of the rotating shaft 2 and serves to hold the spool assembly thereon. The hub 6 is provided with cut-out portions I8 for receiving the male portions of a plural- .ity (four, as shown) of arcuate barrel segments 22 which are pivotally mounted on pins 24. The free end of each of the barrel sections is provided with a wedge portion 26 on its internal face. A nut 28 is threaded on the threads 9 and extends within the free ends of the barrel segments 22. Wedge surfaces 3i) on the outer surface of. the nut'28 cooperate with the wedge surfaces 26 to move the barrel segments 22 outwardly. Each of the barrel segments 22 has a groove 3l in the inner side of its free end. Springs 32, connected to adjacent sides of adjacent barrel segments 22, force the barrel segments inwardly against thev wedge surface 3i), the segments being 'guided in this movement by lugs 33 on the hub 6 which t in the grooves 3l. The free ends of the barrel segments 22 are provided with shoulders 34 against which is positioned an annular cover plate 36. This cover plate has an axial opening therethrough of sufficient size toy permit the plate to pass over the ends of the barrel segments. The outer surfaces of the barrel segments and the inner surface of the cover plate 36 have complementary locking surfaces 38 thereon. The nut 28 may be provided With holes 40 for receiving a tool 42 to tighten or loosen the nut.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When a coil of wire has been built up on the barrel segments 22 between the flange I0 and the cover plate 36, the rotation of the take-up spool is stopped andthe nut 28 is retracted from the position shown in Figure 1 by means of the tool 42 until the barrel segments 22 are moved inwardly by means of springs 32 to a position permitting the cover plate 36 to be removed. In this position, as shown in Figure 4, the barrel segments 22 are no longer in close engagement with the inside of the coil of wire and the lcoil may be readily removed therefrom. The barrel segments 22, the flange I0 and the cover plate 36 are provided with slots 44 so that tie wires can be passed around the coil to hold the folds thereof in place before collapsing the spool. After the coil is removed, the cover plate 36 is passed over the nut 28 and the ends of the barrel segments 22 and the nut`28 is screwed on the threads 9 until the wedge surface 30 forces the barrel segments 22 outwardly into the position shown in Figure 1. thus locking cover plate 36 in position.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made Without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible take-up spool for coiling wire comprising a rotatable hub portion, said hub portion being free at one end, the said free end being threaded, a flange at the other end of said hub, a plurality of barrel segments pivotally mounted on the end of the hub portion having the ange thereon, said barrel segments being closely spaced so as to form a substantially cylindrical surface for supporting the wire, a wedge surface on the inner side of the free end of the barrel segments, a nut threaded on said hub portion and extending within the free ends of the barrel segments, a wedge surface on said nut cooperating with said wedge surfaces of the barrely being greater than the outside diameter of the' nut, the outer surfaces of the barrel' segments and the inner surface of the cover plate having complementary surfaces thereon for locking the barrel segments and cover plate together when the nutforces the barrel segments outwardly.

2. A collapsible take-up spoolfor ,ceiling wire comprising a rotatable hub portion, said hub portion being free at one` end, the said free end being threaded, a flange at the other end of said hub, a plurality of barrel segments pivotally mounted on the end of the hub portion having the flange thereon, said barrel segments being closely spaced so as to form asubstantially cylindrical-surface'for/supporting the wire, a wedge surface on the inner side of the free end of the barrel segments, a nut threaded on said hub portionandexten'ding within the freeV ends of the barrel segments,4 a wedge surface on said nut cooperating with said wedge surfaces of the barrel segments to move them outwardly, a cover plate positioned over the free'ends of said barrel segments, the outer surfaces of the barrel segments and the inner surface of the cover plate having complementary surfaces thereon for locking the barrel segments and cover plate together when the nut forces the barrel segments outwardly, the inside diameter of said cover plate being greater than the-outside diameter of the nut, and resilient means connecting the free ends of. said barrel segments to force them inwardly when the nut is retractedk from the wedge surfaces of the barrel segments.

3. A collapsible take-up spool for coiling wire comprisingraV rotatable shaft, a rotatable hub mountedon the end of said shaft, a flange on the. inboard end of said hu'b,raY reduced diameterv threaded portion onv` the outboard end of said hub, a plurality of elongatedn barrel segments arranged around the periphery of said hub, saidbar-rel segments being closely spacedv so as to form a substantially cylindrical surface for supporting the wire; a pivot for supporting each segment-on the end of the hub having the flange thereon, a wedge surface on the inner side of the free end of the vbarrel segments, a nut threadedron saidthreaded portion, a wedge surface on said nut cooperating with said wedge surfaces of the barrel'segments to move them outwardly,;and a cover plate positioned over thel free ends of said barrelA segments, the outer sur-v Y faces of the barrel segments and theinn'er surface of theV cover plate having complementarysurfaces thereon for locking theibarrel segments and cover plate together when the nut forces the barrel segments outwardly.

4. A collapsible take-up spool for `coiling wire comprising a rotatable shaft, a rotatable hub mounted en the endrofsaid shaft, a flange on the inboard end of said hub, a reduced diameter threaded,portionV on the outboard end of said hub,A a plurality of elongated barrel segments arranged arounduthe peripheryof said hub, Va pivot for supporting each segment on the end of the hub having the flange thereon, a wedge surface on the inner side of the free end of the barrel segments, a nut threaded on said threaded portion, a wedge surface on said nut cooperating with said wedge surfaces of the barrel segments to move them outwardly, a cover plate positioned over the free ends of said barrel segments, the outer surfacesof the barrel segments and the inner surface of the cover plate having complementary lsurfaces thereon #for locking the barrel segments and cover plate together when Y the nut forces the barrel segments outwardly,

4said segments and hub having a space therebe'twn'vadjac'e'ht the free end of said segments,

' and a plurality of springs in said space connected to adjacent sides of adjacent barrel segments to'force them inwardly against the wedge surface 0n th? nut-l 5. A collapsible take-up spool for coiling wire comprising a rotatable shaft, a rotatable hub mounted on the end of said shaft, a flange on the inboard end of said hub, a reduced diameter threaded portion on the outboard en d of said hub, a plurality of elongated barrel segments 'arranged around the periphery of saidhub, said-Y barrel segments being closely spaced so Vas to form a substantially cylindrical surfacefor supporting the wire, a pivot Afor supportingeachsegment on the end ofthe hub having the fla-nge thereon, a wedge surface on the inner side of the freeend of the barrel segments-L i a nut threaded on said threaded portioniawedge surface on said nutV cooperatinglwith said wedge surfaces of the barrel segmentstoumovge them outwardly, a cover plate positioned over the free-ends of said barrel segments, Ythe outer surfaces ofthe barrel segments and the inner surface of theycoverA vplate having, ,complementary surfaces thereon for locking thebarrel segments and cover plate together whenthe` nut forcesfthe barrel segments outwardly, 'theinsidediameter ofusaidV y cover plate being greatenthan the outside diameter of the nut, and resilient means connecting the free ends of saidbarrl, segments to force them inwardly when the nut is retracted from the, wedge surfaces of the barrel segments:

6. A collapsible take-up spool forcoiling wire comprising a rotatable shaft, a rotatable hub mounted on the endfof said shaft,l a flangeon the inboard end of said hub, a reduced diameter threaded portion lon theoutboard end of said hub, a plurality of elongated barrel Vsegmentsarranged around the periphery of said hub, a pivot for supporting each segment on the end of the hub having the flange thereon,.a wedgersurface" on the inner Side of thefree, end ofthe barrelsegments, a nut threadedronsaid threaded por# tion, a wedge surface on saidinut cooperatingwith said wedge surfaces of the barrel segments to move them outwardlya cover platepositioned` over the free ends of said barrel segmentsythe outer surfaces of the barrel segments and the in- Vner surface of the-cover plate having complemenf tary surfaces thereon for locking the barrelseg ments and coverplate together when the` nuty forces the barrel segments outwardly', the inside Ydiameter of said cover plate being greaterthan the outside diameter of the nut,.e'ach of saidbar rel segments havingr a groove in the inner sur'-` mounted on the end of said shaft, a flange on theJ inbcard end of said hub, a reduced diameterl threaded portion on the outboard end of said hub, a plurality of elongated barrel segments arranged around the periphery of said hub, a pivot for supporting each segment on the end of the hub having the flange thereon, a wedge surface on the inner side of the free end of the barrel segments, a nut threaded on said threaded portion, a wedge surface on said nut cooperating with said wedge surfaces of the barrel segments to move them outwardly, a cover plate positioned over the free ends of said barrel segments, the outer surfaces of the barrel segments and the inner surface of the cover plate having complementary surfaces thereon for locking the barrel segments and cover plate together when the nut forces the barrel segments outwardly, the inside diameter of said cover Vplate being greater than the outside diameter of the nut, each of said barrel segments having a groove in the inner surface thereof, a plurality of guiding lugs on said hub, one of said lugs extending into each of said grooves, said segments and hubs having a space therebetween adjacent the free end of said segments, and a plurality of springs in said space connected to adjacent sides of adjacent barrel segments to force them inwardly against the wedge surface on the nut.

8. A collapsible take-up spool for coiling Wire according to claim 7 in which there'is a shoulder on the free end of said segments against which the cover plate bears.

HOMER G. PROCTOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 771,902 Frank Oct. 11, 1904 964,023 Hofmann July 12, 1910 1,400,936 Bull Dec. 20, 1921 1,964,585 Larsen June 26, 1934 2,225,180 Olesen Dec. 17, 1940 2,338,933 Grauer Jan. 11, 1944 2,443,243 Hayssen June 15, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 213,733 Italy Mar. 15, 1941 855,420 France Feb. 12, 1940 

